Rock-spreading machine



- Nog. 2', 1926.

. 1,605,094 -M. M. BUTLER RocK SPREADING MACHINE 'Filed sept. 2a 1924 Patented Nov. 2, '1926` 1,605,094 PATENT OFFICE.

MARK M. BTIILLIR, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ROCK-SPREADING MACHINE.

application mea september as, 1924. Aserieu 1re. 740,563.

My invention relates to a means for layroadways and it has particular lreference to a device for delivering upon a surface 1n a continuous manner a regulable mass of material discharging from a container.

Various objects are aimed at by this in vention and the most importantof them 'may be stated to be the provision of a device of this character in which thematerial to be laid is received and from which it discharges by natural gravitation in an uninterrupted iow while in motion; in which the material 'during the passage therefrom onto the ground offers no impedance to the free draft of thisl device; in which the mineral s aggregates or other contents leave the deaccompanyingvice substantially by rolling motion and in' frictionless manner, thereby preventing anyv dragging of the material laid, with the inevitable consequences of uneven or irregular deposit, and in which the entire weight ofthe material is sustained by and Within 4the container and from which a definite amount is paid out for a required surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be supported entirely above-and free of the surface over which it is to be" moved by means having rolling contact with the surface whereby the loaded'device may freely follow any direction of the vehicle by which it is drawn.

Other objects will apear from the specification followin in connectionwith the rawing 'illustrating preferable forms my invention, which maybe obviously expressed in `formsother than shown herein. v. Fig. 1 is a vention.

Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the rear front view showing my in- I stationarywall of my device and the adjust'- lso ' extension.

able rear wall associated therewith, with ex tensions mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a side view partly broken, to show the bottom ofthe device and the discharge chute for the contents.

Fig. 4 is a detail of onefof the extensions of and on the rear wall and .f

'Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of such' My invention consists. ofa container adapted to 'receive'the char e of and to be drawn by, a Avehiclefand to' ay its contents :upon the ground or 'other surface during the ing mineral aggregates in the building of l partly as supports for the hoppers.

movement of the container overthe surface.

It consists further ofa container which is supported `freely above the surface to be traversed and supplied thereby by means having rolling or frictionlesscontact with the surface and which feeds out the contents in vregulated continuous stream. Attention is here called to many devices known in this art in which hoppers .having open bottoms are employed for distributing purposes and in which skids are used either entiily or exerience has shown that devices with yopen ottoms act merely as enclosures for guiding the 'mass of aggregates without sustaining any ofuits weight, which is carried entirely by the ground or surface to be laid, consequently t e movement of the enclosure over the ground is resisted by the superimposed mass4 which therefore must be dragged over the p'ption contacting the ground.

' lOne of the main objects of this invention,l

same and producing unevenness inthe layer.

Referring to the drawing, a casing 1, is

shown,` -of substantially rectangular shape and open at the top for the reception of material adapted. to be discharged thereinto from a suitable vehicle, by which the casing may be drawn. For this latter purpose, the device 1 may be provided with a draw bar 2, carrying clevises 3.

The casing lais supported entirely free of the surface over which it is arranged to be drawn, b means having rolling contact with such sur ace and the means may comprise a plurality vof series of rollers 4 and 5, arranged one series in advance ofthe other and preferably in pairs, as shown, to render mobile the device, For purposes of disclosure, these rollers are shown revoluble upon axles 6 and 7, carried in a frame 8to whichy the side walls 9 of the casing are permanenttom 11 o the casing is rigidly supported.

This bottom 11 is, as shown/inclined to the .14 is adjustable on said rear wall 12 by any mechanical means, as screws 16 operable by cranks 17 and is slidably mounted in ways 18 on the rear wall. Themovement of the blade 14 on the inclined rear wall occurs relative to the bottom thereof and according to the direction of such movement determines t-heextent ofthe throat in, or the area of. the chute, of which it, the blade, formsK a part, and consequently the quantity of material which "may flow through said chute.

As seen, the side walls 9 of the casing 1 are imperforate and the bottom of said side walls 9,- extend for a portion of their length rearwardly of the frame 8 and overhang the way. The quantity -of material passing from the casing through the chute 15 determines the thickness of the lay of material and, as stated, such quantity may be regulated by the 'adjustable blade 14, which, as shown, is inclined at a degree substantially coincident with the rear wall, whereby a downward movement of sameoperates toiconstrict or reduce the transverse throat area ofthe chute. The material within the casing flows freely therefrom onto the ground and clear of the casing which leaves the material undisturbed during the, movement thereof. To guide the material to the ground and prevent any unevenness along the margin of the material laid, the chute 13 may be laterally enclosed andsuch lateral enclosure may be extensions 19 of the blade 14. These extensions 19 embrace the sides of the casing 1 and operate relative tothe bottom of the side walls to confine within the lateral limits of the chute 15 the material` passing therethrough. For purposes of the` present disclosure, these extensions 19 are carried lupon the blade 14 and are movable therewith and relatively thereto, the relative movement of such extensions being effected by levers 2O fulcrumed on said blade 14, and

having the end 21 freely extended throughy eyelets 22 in said extensions and the other ends 23 being arranged to be held in position bynotches 24 provided on the slides 18 which are fastened to the blade 14 and operate between and underneath the ways 18. By- 'this means, the extensions may be held in any position of adjustment or may be operated according to needs.

In order to prevent bridging of the m'a- I terial within the throat of the chute 15, and

particularly atthe extreme ends or corners the apron 11 is provided with cutouts 25], which prevent packing and permit a constant and regular flow of the material through the entire area of the chute. Suitable braces` 26 may be used to tie together the apron 11 and the rear t'Wall 12.

The roller carrying frame 8 is preferably provided with rolling buffers 26, which protect the curbing of a-street and also the frame against damage due to collision or inadvertent contact.

It will be obvious from the above description, that a course of material may be laid with ready ease by this device Without scraping or pushing along the laid material and that the facile traction of' the device is in no wise interfered with by the laid material. It will also'be apparent from the above description that the material laid flows in a constant uniform stream from the container which sustains the entire weight of the material and .from which the stream of material pays out continuously and fluently as the de:-

vice is moved.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for laying material, a casing having 4a rearwardly inclining bottom-terminating in a downwardly extending apron, and a rear wall, a blade on 'said rear wall co-operating with said apron to form a chute having open sides, ymeans to move said blade relative to saidapron to control the transverse area of said chute. and roller means arranged in pairs and disposed in advance of the chute for supporting said cas- ;ing entirely above the surface of the ground.

2. In an apparatus for laying material, a casing having a rearwardly inclining bottom formed with an apron extending below said bottom, and a rear wall, a blade on said rear wall co-operating with said apron to form an open-sided chute below said bottom,

means to move said blade relative to said i apron to control the transverse area of said chute, and means selectively operable to control the discharge of material through the sides of said chute.

3. In an apparatus for laying material, a casing having a rearwardly inclining bottom formed with a downwardly extending apron, vand a reary wall, a blade on said rear Wall forming with said apron an open-sided chute below said casing, means to move said blade relative to said apron' to control the transverse area of said chute, and means to control thepassage of material through the sides of said chute, -said means movable with and independently of said blade.

4. In an apparatus forA laying material, ay

casing. rollers arranged in pairs to support the casing entirely above the surface, operated over, said casing having an inclined bottom terminating below said casing, and a rear wall spaced from said bottom, a blade on said rear wall co-operating with the portion of the bottom. terminating below the said bottom, a blade onl said rear wall c'o'- casing to form an open-sided chute, means operating with said apron to form an open to operate said blade on said rear wall to sided chute below said casing, means for control the transverse area of said chute and selectively moving said blade to control the 15 5 means .operable-relative to the open sides of uantity .of Amaterial passing through said the chute to control the passage of material c nte, and me-ans for selectively controlling therethrough. Y 1 `thev quantity of material passing through 5. In an apparatus for laying material, -the sides of saidchute.

a casing having a rearwardly inclinin .bot` In testimony whereof I have set my hand.

10 tom formed with an apron extending elow l y L Q l said-casing, and a rear Wall spaced from` MlARK M. BUTLER.` 

